Wilson Solicitors LLP is known for its legal aid work and regularly represents clients affected by the actions of public bodies, with a commitment to acting for the most marginalised individuals, including victims of torture and trafficking, children, vulnerable families, disabled people, and those with mental health problems. Head of public law James Wilson, who has also been acting as firm managing partner since April 2023, has overseen an expansion into inquest work to complement the established judicial review and test litigation experience. Nina Rathbone Pullen and Katy Robinson lead the work, with the latter having particular expertise in community care. Nusrat Uddin specialises in strategic litigation relating to modern slavery and trafficking. Jed Pennington was promoted to partner in January 2023 and specialises in judicial review and civil actions challenging immigration detention.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Wilson Solicitors consistently excels in complex claims and those involving cross-over areas of practice. They are an excellent team with exceptional lawyers at all levels and are a go-to firm for strategic claims.’
‘Brilliant, inventive lawyers who really care about their clients.’
‘Wilsons are at the top of their game in all aspects of public law concerning the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. Their expertise in immigration law feeds into the public and administrative court work.’
‘They have strategic insight into using judicial reviews as a vehicle to get damages for clients. All their lawyers are brilliantly trained, diligent and smart.’
‘Excellent strategic thinking in terms of systemic litigation without losing sight of each client's individual case; Nina Rathbone Pullen's knowledge of the field is exceptional.’
‘Really top-class public law team with particular expertise in trafficking, migrant support and immigration public law cases.’
‘Brilliant team for migrant support-related community care and public law.’
‘Wilsons is the firm I most regularly recommend to people looking for representation. Brilliant from top to bottom; filled with passionate and exceptional lawyers who represent the very best that the legal aid sector has to offer.’
Key clients
- ASM (Iraq)
- Medical Justice
- 20 individuals who were detained at the Manston detention facility
- 6 individuals who brought judicial reviews challenging GPS tags
- Wong v Basfar
- R (on the application of All the Citizens) & Supply Chain Coordination Limited, Collaborative Procurement Partnership LLP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- Migrants Organise
- G – client held at Napier barracks
- FAO and ALN – clients held in unsuitable asylum support accommodation in former jail cells at ‘Clink 78’ hostel
- IZ – age disputed client
Work highlights
- Represented a victim of trafficking in a Supreme Court case, in which the client successfully established that a diplomat is not immune from civil claims of trafficking and domestic servitude.
- Representing an asylum seeker and victim of modern slavery in a challenge to the government’s Rwanda plan.
- Acted in a successful challenge against the UK government’s decision to procure rubber gloves from the PPE supplier Supermax, despite clear indicators of forced labour in the supply chain.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Nina Rathbone Pullen, Katy Robinson